Konda Murali meets Telangana Dy CM Bhatti Vikramarka amid Cabinet reshuffle row
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Congress leader Konda Murali, husband of Telangana's Endowments and Forest Minister Konda Surekha, on Wednesday called on Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy in Hyderabad, in a meeting that drew immediate political attention given the ongoing row over remarks by his daughter Konda Sushmitha.
Why the Meeting Matters
The visit came just a day after the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) Disciplinary Committee submitted its report, which reportedly recommends strong action against Minister Surekha. Speculation has been rife that Surekha could be dropped from the Cabinet, lending the otherwise routine meeting an unmistakable political undertone. Notably, MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy — widely regarded as a critic of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy — was also present during the visit.
What Murali Said
Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Murali maintained that no political issues were discussed, saying he met the Deputy Chief Minister solely to clear a pending bill. He said he would withhold further comment until the Disciplinary Committee formally announced its decision.
On his daughter's remarks, Murali was unequivocal: 'My daughter made remarks as per plan-A. I don't know what is her plan-B,' he quipped. He insisted that Sushmitha's statements were her own and had no bearing on him or his wife. He also firmly denied reports that the couple was considering quitting the Congress, reaffirming their faith in Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, and Priyanka Gandhi.
The Sushmitha Controversy
The row was triggered when Konda Sushmitha publicly criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy after he threw his weight behind sitting MLA Revuri Prakash Reddy for the Prakala constituency in the next election. At a programme in Prakala, Warangal district, Sushmitha declared she would contest from the seat regardless of the Chief Minister's choice. She also levelled allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister's family — remarks that set off a sharp internal backlash within the party.
Party Action and Surekha's Defence
The TPCC Disciplinary Committee subsequently issued a notice to Minister Surekha, seeking an explanation for her daughter's public outburst. Surekha responded by arguing that she could not be held accountable for statements made independently by her adult daughter. The committee's report, submitted on Tuesday, reportedly recommends firm disciplinary action, though the final decision has not yet been announced.
What Comes Next
With the Disciplinary Committee's ruling still pending, the political future of Minister Surekha within the Telangana Cabinet remains uncertain. The episode has exposed fault lines within the state Congress unit, and any Cabinet reshuffle or punitive action could deepen tensions between factions aligned with the Chief Minister and those closer to the Konda family. All eyes are now on the TPCC's next move.